• Appointed to the Department, January 27, 1964

Fred, a native San Franciscan, is married to Patricia (Dunlevy), the daughter of John Dunlevy a retired SFFD Fire Investigator. They have three children: Robert (Bob), Deputy Chief of Operations of the SFFD, Jennifer and Karin. Fred's father, the late Oscar Postel retired from the SFFD as a Battalion Chief in 1972 with 50 years of service. As of March 27, 2023, the Postel family has served in the SFFD for 100 continuous years.

Chief Postel's assignments were always at the busiest and most challenging companies. He was assigned to Engine 21, Engine 3, Truck 3, Captain at Engine 5, and Battalion Chief at Battalions 2 and 5. As an Assistant Chief, he served as Director of Training and oversaw the training of the first women to enter the SFFD.

Fred was appointed Chief of Department during a challenging period in the history of the SFFD. In November 1987, prior to Postel's tenure as Chief, the City entered a Consent Decree with the US Federal Court. A key component of the Decree was to increase representation of minorities and women in the SFFD and to increase their representation in the promotional ranks within the SFFD. As Chief of Department, it was his duty to not only implement hiring and promotion practices consistent with Consent Decree Guidelines, but to also comply with the Consent Decree Directive to improve and to enhance human relations and to assure a professional work environment within the SFFD.

As Chief, it was Fred's goal to maintain and to improve the high level of services provided to the citizens of San Francisco by the SFFD and to expand and to enhance the skill level of all members of the Department while simultaneously implementing the Consent Decree - - this was accomplished.

During Fred's tenure as Chief, he worked successfully with members of the Department, the US Court Monitor, Attorneys for Plaintiff Intervenors, the City Attorneys Office, and affinity groups within the Department representing different demographics of the SFFD. Throughout this period the outstanding public image of the San Francisco Fire Department was maintained.

The 1989 the Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred during Chief Postel's tenure. The Department's response to the earthquake and to earthquake recovery efforts was exemplary.

After the earthquake, in addition to Chief of Department duties and responsibilities, Chief Postel was also assigned as Acting Director of the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to coordinate recovery operations and to update OES Guidelines and Training for future Emergency/Disaster responses. He served as Acting OES Director for approximately four months.

In addition to his duties in San Francisco, Chief Postel also served as:

• Member of The California Seismic Safety Commission Emergency Response Committee, representing California Fire Chiefs
• Member of The Governor's Special Arson Task Force
• Original Member of The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum
• Member of NFPA Nominating Committee For The Board of Directors
• Vice Chairman of The California Metropolitan Fire Chiefs

Significant Accomplishments of the Postel Administration include

• Implementation of the US Federal Court Consent Decree
• Implementation of The Incident Command System
• Instituted A Lease Purchase Program to Replace Aging Apparatus
• Instituted An Immediate Defective Aerial Ladder Replacement Program
• Instituted Areal Ladder Testing Program
• Implemented Defibrillator Program
• Established Surf/Cliff Rescue Program
• Established Peer Mediation Program
• Established EEO Complaint Committee
• Established Fire Prevention Revenue Generating Programs
• Supported Stress Unit Conducting Critical Incident Stress Debriefings
• Created Neighborhood Emergency Response Team Training (NERT) Program following Loma Prieta Earthquake
• Implemented Hearing Conservation Program
• Implemented Mandatory Breathing Apparatus (Scott) Rule

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